The Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) has demanded of the government to fix the price of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in accordance with the import rate. KBP President Zafar Hussain Khan accused the DAP stockists of fleecing the farmers by selling DAP at double of import price and of earning profit between Rs 1400 and Rs 2400 per 50 kg bag.
He said that the stockists imported DAP at the rate of Rs 1600 to Rs 2200 per 50 kg bag, just three months ago, but since the DAP prices have increased in the international market, they are now selling the same bag at rates ranging up to Rs 4000.
He said that the government should instruct the importers/stockists to write max retail price (MRP) of 50 kg bag at the time of import to save the farming community from black-marketing and hoarding of this vital fertiliser.
He said that the government should not leave the farmers/growers at the mercy of the stockists and traders and should play an active role in the provision of essential fertilisers and agriculture inputs to the farmers so that agriculture sector could play its due role in the national economic growth. Ibrahim Mughal, of Agri Forum Pakistan, told Business Recorder that Pakistan imports about 20 million tons DAP annually for its two main Rabi and Kharif crops while 30 percent of its needs is produced locally.
He said since the DAP prices have surged beyond the reach of the lower and middle level farmers, there was at least 50 percent less use of DAP which has resulted into 3 million tons shortfall of wheat production this year. He said that the decrease of DAP use in the ensuing Kharif crop sowing would eventually affect the production of the crops in general, and cotton in particular.